Does the Mercedes-Benz 320 fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Mercedes-Benz 320 records 16.20 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 21.63 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−5.43, 95% interval −7.16 to −3.69). It ranks 581 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a Mercedes-Benz 320 by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Mercedes-Benz 320 is “Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded”, recorded 104 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 104 | 3.75 |
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 48 | 1.73 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 37 | 1.34 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,771 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Mercedes-Benz 320 gets a brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
11.9% of Mercedes-Benz 320 MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.2 months and 6,000 miles later (528 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 528 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Mercedes-Benz 320 body, chassis and structure failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 seat belts and airbags failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 steering failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 suspension failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 tyres failures · Mercedes-Benz 320 visibility failures